How to Use John Deere AutoPath for Precise In-Field Guidance

John Deere AutoPath is designed to maximize the accuracy and efficiency of your in-field operations—guiding every pass with precision by using data from your planter’s original passes. This ensures every subsequent activity—side dressing, spraying, or harvesting—follows the exact rows you planted, minimizing crop damage and overlap.

Below, you’ll find a concise, step-by-step tutorial on how AutoPath works, how to adjust key settings, and tips to help you get the most from your guidance system.

What is John Deere AutoPath?

AutoPath is an advanced guidance system that creates accurate paths for each field operation based on the original planter data. By analyzing the precise locations of every planted row, AutoPath generates guidance lines for later passes—even if you’re using tools of different widths or returning to the field with different implements.

Key Features at a Glance

• Visual Guidance: View planted rows, operational passes, and real-time guidance lines on your display screen.

• Tool Width Flexibility: AutoPath automatically updates guidance lines when you switch between implements of varying widths (e.g., planter, sprayer).

• Smart Row Tracking: Adjusts guidance to field curves, obstacles, and unique boundaries.

• Efficient Pass Planning: Optimizes the number of passes for each operation to minimize time and overlaps.

• Easy Row Shifting: Fine-tune your lines in small increments, maintaining perfect alignment while minimizing crop disturbance.

Step-by-Step: Using AutoPath in the Field

1. View and Manage Row Data

• On your in-cab screen, planted rows appear as yellow lines.

• You can choose to display or hide these rows as needed:

  • Go to the guidance button at the bottom of the page.

  • Navigate to Advanced Guidance Settings.

  • Use options to show/hide planted rows and source operational passes (the original planter paths).

2. Adjust Track Spacing for Different Tools

• If your implement width changes (e.g., from a 40-foot planter to a 100-foot sprayer), update your track spacing.

• The display will automatically regenerate the guidance lines, showing new blue lines for guidance and green lines for planter pass centers.

3. Selecting Your Guidance Source

• Instead of using pre-set A-B lines, select AutoPath as your guidance source:

  • Open Guidance > Set Track.

  • Choose AutoPath planning data to load the correct file for the field.

• This ensures every pass is aligned to the original planting, even with different equipment or widths.

4. Fine-Tuning Guidance Line Generation

• Go to Set Track > AutoPath and tap the pencil icon to edit.

• Choose how lines are generated:

  • Follow Rows (minimizes total field passes).

  • Follow Source Operation Paths (follows each planter pass precisely, ideal for certain tools and preferences).

• Adjustments are updated on your guidance map in real time.

5. Shifting Rows as Needed

• Use the Shift Track feature to nudge rows in increments up to 6 inches for perfect alignment.

• To clear a shift, return to zero or use Edit > Shifts > Clear Shifts.

6. Handling Curved Fields and Headlands

• AutoPath tracks planted rows, even around curves or waterways.

• Seamlessly transition from headland lines to main lines—simply steer onto the new line, hit auto track, and let AutoPath handle the guidance.

• No need to set new tracks; the switch happens automatically when you turn into the next row.

Frequently Asked Questions

What problem does AutoPath solve?

AutoPath eliminates guesswork from every in-field operation after planting. It ensures every tool—planter, sprayer, or harvester—follows the precise rows planted, even with varying equipment widths, reducing overlap, skips, and crop damage.

Can I adjust AutoPath settings for new implements?

Yes! You can instantly update track spacing in the display to match your current tool width. AutoPath will automatically generate new, accurate guidance lines.